Cherry Glass Tulip 1 Inch Drapery Rod

March 29, 2010 -- Blinds Chalet is stepping away from the traditional into a more artistic realm. The new line of art guild rods include hand blown glass and ceramic designs. “It’s a new arena for us,” says Chris Stanley of Blinds Chalet. “Everyone should have a little fun with their products.”

Blinds Chalet recently added a drapery hardware line to their standard offerings of window treatments and blinds. However, the art guild rods are by far the most extravagant of the new drapery rods. From tulips to glass blocks to ceramic vase endings, Blinds Chalet is putting a little flavor back into home decorating.

The Cherry Glass and Turquoise Glass Tulip 1” Drapery Rods are made from natural materials such as recycled metals, glass, ceramics, low V.O.C water based paints and stains for finishing. They are packaged with papers and cardboard to eliminate plastics, as is the entire line of art guild rods.

The clear glass block is also eco-friendly and adds a contemporary modern flair to window treatments and blinds. A cappuccino ceramic vase looks as if it could have washed up on the beach. With a smooth matte finish and copper edging, this product works well with natural tones, adding just a hint of flair. The blue ceramic fluted vase ending softens a window treatment with a bit of femininity. Lastly, the Monaco ceramic vase is a glazed finish that can work with both traditional rooms filled with antiques, or beach houses.

A 30% off discount makes this line of drapery rods even more appealing to consumers. “We’re excited about this new line,” says Stanley. “We’ve had fun choosing the products and we hope our customers are as satisfied as we are.”

For more information on Blinds Chalet or current trends in the industry:

Contact: Chris Stanley
Company: Blinds Chalet
www.BlindsChalet.com
Phone: 1-888-633-7840 or 480-633-7840

Kokomo, IN - March 10, 2010 -- The Indiana Glass Trail program has just become an internet super highway for those who enjoy the Hoosier heritage of glass arts. The new web site, www.IndianaGlassTrail.com, now paves the way for those who would love to meet and greet glass artists in central Indiana and see their work up close and personal.

The Indiana Glass Trail is an Indiana Artisan sponsored program designed to raise awareness of the glass arts and encourage tourism within the state. IndianaGlassTrail.com is a one-stop online destination for showcasing talented Hoosier artisans and glass blowers that create their magic with glass. The trail connects communities in which the history and tradition of glass arts has been the most prevalent and which can now be experienced first hand.

Learning more about glass artists along the Indiana Glass Trail can be easily done by clicking on any of the links on the web site. Studios, shops, galleries and museums as well as festivals and workshops that carry artists’ work for display or purchase can be found through www.IndianaGlassTrail.com for the five following areas:

Anderson/Madison County - In 1887, a natural gas well sprung up in White River and the "Gas Boom” began. The gas was used as fuel to form glass artwork just like those examples displayed today at The House of Glass in Elwood.

Columbus - Columbus is home to two original works of glass art by world-renowned artist, Dale Chihuly. Also, a colorful glass quilt and a blazing 900-piece neon chandelier are on public display in this unique city.

Hamilton County – Glass art filled antique shops, galleries featuring glass jewelry, and glass heritage sites dot the quaint main streets of this community's eight unique towns.

Kokomo/Howard County – The Kokomo Artworks continually shows the work of several glass artists. Kokomo Opalescent Glass offers factory and hot glass studio tours. Greentown and Jenkins glass can be seen at the Greentown Glass Museum and the Seiberling Mansion in Kokomo.

Muncie/Delaware County - Muncie is renowned for its glass history beginning with the Ball family. Artful glass examples, from beadwork to sculpture, are plentiful in the area. The planned future glass school at Ball State University is testimony to Muncie's glass legacy.

IndianaGlassTrail.com is the best place on the internet to discover what Indiana has to offer in the glass arts. The Indiana Glass Trail program is a joint venture between the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, and the Indiana Arts Commission.The program is managed by the associated local visitor bureaus in central Indiana; Anderson/Madison County, Columbus, Hamilton County, Kokomo/Howard County, and Muncie/Delaware County. For more information on the Indiana Glass Trail, contact the Kokomo Visitors Bureau toll free at 800.837.0971.

Purple Matisse Necklace

A visit to the Village Theatre Art Gallery's current glass art exhibit may prompt one response: Tell me more about it.

Artist Janice Peacock, who has been working with glass since 1989, will do just that at a free lecture from 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25.

Peacock, who lives in the Lafayette hills, originally began working with traditional stained glass. Her beadwork has been displayed in several exhibits nationally and internationally. She currently specializes in glass bead making.

During the lecture, Peacock will discuss glass bead work and traditional stained glass technique. Some of her own works will be on display for the evening.

The Village Theatre Art Gallery at 233 Front St. in Danville opened in November. The Town of Danville is dedicated to hosting continuing art education classes and lectures that are free and open to the public.

The current exhibition, "The Light Fantastic: Irish Stained Glass," will run through March 28. It is the first of its kind to feature secular, free-standing, portable glass panels, and was developed by the Crafts Council of Ireland.

SOURCE  _  http://www.danvilleweekly.com/news/show_story.php?id=2976

Large Light Green Clam Shell

PRESS RELEASE

Nashville, TN - December 31, 2009 -- Artisan Design Gallery, a showcase for original glass art and handmade jewelry from the artisan community, has launched an online marketplace and shopping site for collectors and consumers to shop exclusive handmade art and jewelry at their convenience, all in one place.

Dedicated to scouring the country for the highest quality, unique artisan jewelry and glass art, Artisan Design Gallery features an exclusive collection of distinctive novelties normally found only in specialty shops, craft shows and art galleries.

Shoppers looking for handcrafted gifts for a loved one or art lovers looking for an addition to their home can browse a growing and diverse collection of handmade jewelry, glass art, unique bridal jewelry and more.

Artisan Design Gallery offers shoppers the ability to:
•   Shop featured products from the home page for quick gift and home décor ideas.
•   Explore artisan, handmade jewelry including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and jewelry sets from top artists and designers.
•   Celebrate the intricate detail and outstanding quality of glass art vases, bowls, perfume bottles, barware and more.
•   Browse a wide range of unique bridal jewelry and bridesmaid gifts, from elegant necklaces and bracelets to champagne flutes and more.
•   Shop the sale collection for budget-friendly prices on a variety of artisan products.
•   Review full product details and shipping information for hundreds of pieces of original art.
•   View all items by artist or subscribe to a specific artist’s product feed via RSS to stay up-to-date as new products arrive.

In addition to the ability to purchase original art, shoppers can peruse the Artisan Design Gallery Blog for the latest news, artisan tips, product features and other insights into the artisan community.

About Artisan Design Gallery
Artisan Design Gallery showcases artisans and their unique original art from across the country that is usually found only at niche boutiques, art galleries and fine craft shows. Artisan Design Gallery was born from the desire to offer art lovers like themselves the ability to shop for original art at their convenience and not at each designer or artist’s respective location.

Moon Stumpp uses a special torch that mixes propane with oxygen for a hot controlled flame. - Frank Espich / The Star

by Julie Cope Saetre

Moon Stumpp is no stranger to working with heat. Her adventures in art have included silver smithing (using an acetylene torch) and pottery (kilns, anyone?).

But when she first tried lampworking -- the process of creating glass beads by using a special torch that mixes fuel (in her case, propane) with oxygen for a hot, controlled flame -- she knew she had found a creative home.

"The color, the movement of the glass, to be able to actually express almost a conversation or word or a symbol through color -- pretty much, I use lampwork as a main focus in all my jewelry now," says Stumpp, 51.

Made from Italian Effetre and Vetrofond or German Lauscha art glass, Stumpp's lampwork beads are worlds away from mass-produced imports......

Read more at -  http://www.indystar.com/article/20091220/LIVING19/912200310/She-sees-the-light-by-making-lampwork-beads

Laura Salwen is a metro-Buffalo artist and beachcomber who incorporates found objects into her art. At Open Studio Weekend, hosted by Artists in Buffalo (www.artistsinbuffalo.org), she displayed jewelry and fired glassware both incorporating her found littoral objects including:  ground glass, shells, wood etc. She refers to herself and her work as ‘Washed Up’.

Laura Salwen Washed Up: 

jewelry and gift items constructed of found objects,beads & wire jewelry

SOURCE -  http://video.artvoice.com/artvoicetv.php?permalink=0000000913

FIRST-CLASS GLASS. (Above) Hilltop Artists member Samantha Scalise creates her works in glass like a pro. Photo by Kathy Anderson

by Cee Cee Robins

Hilltop Artists will be having its annual holiday glass sale on Saturday, Dec. 12. The sale, which has been going on for 15 years, showcases all sorts of amazing art glass made by young students at Hilltop Artists for sale to the general public for personal enjoyment and holiday gift giving. It’s the community’s opportunity to celebrate the season while supporting these deserving, budding artists. Admission to the sale is free and open to the public. Because this is such a popular event, guests can come early that day and get a numbered ticket then come back to shop when the sale opens.

Accompanying the sale, a VIP event will be held Dec. 11 for people who have donated $200 or more to Hilltop Artists this year. VIPs will be able to bring a guest to browse and shop at their leisure that evening, prior to the holiday sale opening the next day. Guests will have an opportunity to take a bead-making lesson, make their own holiday ornament and commission specific pieces in their favorite colors and watch them being made into a glass treasure.....

Read more at -  http://www.tacomaweekly.com/article/3831

YORKVILLE — It might not be real magic, but when Uncommon Glass owner Nicky Fairless of Yorkville puts little pieces of glass into her kiln to “bake” overnight, the results are magical, as she described it.

“(Glass) has a mind of its own, as far as shape goes, when you melt it together,” Fairless said.

The process is called fusing, in which layers of small pieces of glass are stacked together and heated in a kiln at about 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit until they melt together and then, when cooled, become one solid piece. Fairless uses this method to produce glitzy little pendants that are attractive and eye-catching to say the least, like a delicate candy meant to be worn.

From start to finish, it takes Fairless three days to produce each set of pendants. Fairless noted that the process can be disrupted and end in calamity almost immediately during its fusing in the kiln, which can’t be observed, resulting in a mass waste of glass.....

Read more at -  http://www.vfpnews.com/articles/2009/11/23/77424934/index.xml

See their amazing work at - http://www.blakestreetglass.com

The Pennsylvania Glass Trail runs three weekends packages in 2009.
April 25-26
July 11-12
November 7-8

The PA Glass trail artists will exhibit their work during a month-long exhibition at the GoggleWorks in November, 2009.

PA Glass Trail exhibition:
November 5 – 28, 2009
Schmidt Gallery
Opening Reception:
1st Thursday, November 5, 2009, 5:30-7:30pm

Also of interest:
During the month of November, the GoggleWorks will host its annual “Get It While It’s Hot” event.  Glassblowers from across the nation come together for this fundraising event.  Bid on glass as it’s being created in the hot shop!

Get It While It’s Hot event:
November 21, 5-9pm

For tickets, call 610-374-4600

SOURCE -  http://www.goggleworks.org/paglasstrail/